Press Release

Challenges and Future Prospects for the Internationalisation of German Universities – Annual Conference of the project HRK EXPERTISE Internationalisation

5. December 2018

What are the current framework conditions and challenges for the internationalisation of German universities? How does the German higher education system compare with the rest of the world? What future prospects for action and development opportunities can be identified? Around 200 university leaders, staff from international offices, researchers, teachers and representatives of science ministries and organisations will discuss these questions today and tomorrow at the annual conference of the project HRK EXPERTISE Internationalisation of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) in Berlin. With the project, the HRK is providing universities with a flexible and tailor-made set of advisory and networking tools aimed at a broad variety of tasks, issues and target groupsin the context of internationalisation.

16 universities that successfully passed the Audit and Re-Audit "Internationalisation of Universities" in 2017 and 2018 will receive their certificates at the event. The panel discussion focuses on how to adjust political framework conditions in order to meet future challenges for the internationalisation of German universities. . On day 2 of the conference, topic-specific hands-on workshops on current strategic and specific operational issues of internationalisation will be carried out..

In his opening speech, the President of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), Prof Dr Peter-André Alt, highlighted the contribution made by the many internationally-oriented German universities towards fostering progress and common understanding in an increasingly interdependent world. "I firmly believe that the only way we can confront global scientific and societal challenges is by establishing and strengthening international cooperation in research and teaching and by further internationalising our universities," explained Alt. The HRK President continued by stressing that it is an important responsibility of universities to take a stand for an open-minded society given by the increasing nationalist and isolationist tendencies in Germany, Europe, and other parts of the world. For this reason, the HRK regards it as a key political task to the continually support the universities in their efforts to systematically and sustainably embed the international dimension in all areas of their activity.